Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special for The Post-StandardSyracuse Chiefs infielder Seth Bynum is scheduled to return from a 50-game suspension on Friday.

A cackle of jeers went viral across the Alliance Bank Stadium field during Syracuse Chiefs batting practice last week.

Chiefs infielder Seth Bynum took a hard swing at a lollipop offering from Luis Ordaz and shattered one of his new bats. The quiet chit-chat among small groups of players came to a halt, replaced by a collective mocking of Bynum.

“Ah, we make fun of each other if we do that during batting practice,” Bynum said of the splintered wood. “We’re not supposed to do that during batting practice. He’s throwing 50 mph out there. He got a cutter in on me. I just got a brand new box of bats. I was pretty excited about it.”

Bynum, one of the Chiefs’ most sunny-side up players to begin with, gratefully lapped up the faux sarcasm. Fraternal humor is a comforting reminder that he remains part of the team, if not the lineup.

On May 13, Bynum was hit with a 50-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, in this case amphetamines, in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Bynum admitted to taking Concerta, a prescription stimulant used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (which he does not have), one time in spring training to give him an extra burst of energy.

Bynum, 29, is eligible to return on Friday. During his suspension, he’s tried to keep his routine as close to normal as possible. He arrived at the stadium early for workouts. He jumped into clubhouse card games. When Syracuse was on the road, he took batting practice in the indoor cage.

“I don’t think I realized how much I loved the game until it’s taken away from you. It’s like taking my family away from me,” Bynum said. “I think that’s what keeps me sane, being around these guys. I’m still trying to stay out of their way. They are the ones who have to get their work done.”

Bynum recently discussed a number of topics related to his suspension and return:

Re-gaining the rhythms of the game:

“My swing feels out of whack. We have to keep working on the same things. I’ve been working harder than I ever have. I’ve let a lot of people down. I just have to come back and not try to do too much.”

Feedback from fans:

“I really haven’t gotten any (negative comments). I haven’t gotten on the Internet for some time. I know they were mad at me. Mistakes happen. I hope people realize that. It’s how you come back, progress.

“You can’t worry about what people are thinking. But in my situation, I have to. I let them down. I want to make them realize I’m persevering.”

The reaction in the clubhouse:

“They’ve been the best teammates in the world. I’ll get a little joke now and then, (they) ask me if I’m playing. I’ll tell them, I’m coming back tomorrow.

“I’m making myself part of the team. I come in early to be around the guys. They’ve kept their arms open for me.”

The stigma of his suspension:

“I think it’s forgettable. I can’t control that. I’m going to do everything I can to make people forget about it. I told myself I wasn’t going to make excuses. I messed up. I knew what I was doing. I just want to get past the suspension. I just miss the game.”

The grind of pro baseball and why a player might need some extra energy:

“You bust your butt. It’s not only physically tiring, but it’s mentally draining. You are moving around all day. A lot of it depends on how healthy you are staying, if you keep your body in shape.

“Just imagine lifting weights as hard as you can every day, running as hard as you can every day. The body gets drained. That’s why it’s important to stay healthy and do everything you can.”

The frequency of amphetamine use among players:

“I think it was common four or five years ago. It was a problem in baseball. I know most people aren’t taking them any more.

“The 50 games, the more people who get suspended, the fewer people are doing it. There’s not much stuff that’s undetectable.”

The biggest lesson he’s learned:

“Don’t do drugs. This is a game where everything is changing every year. You have to respect your body. And play by the rules.”